Rotary engine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets8heet 1.

M. E CLARK. ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 572,961. Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2,

M. E. CLARK. ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 572,961. Patented Dec 15,1896.

amen/kw W E0. (324* (No Model.)

.5 Sheets-Sheet 3. M. E. CLARK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 572,961. Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

5 KB mm u 0 m A M MR No. 572,961. Patented Dec, 15, 1896.

No Model.) -5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

M. E. CLARK. ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 572,961. Patented Dec; 15, 1896.

NTTRD STATES PATENT Trice.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,961, dated December15, 1896. Application filed October 14, 1895. Serial No- 565,580. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERRILL E. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Worcester and Oommonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a rotary engine in which theworking parts shall be evenly balanced and the arrangement andadjustment of the abutments such as to utilize a maximum amount of theforce used, which shall be evenly applied to the pistons through eachrevolution, thus developing a large amount of power in an engine ofsmall size. This object I attain by the construction of a double engine,the details of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, and inwhich- Figure 1 is a side view of the outline of the frame of the engineand shows the fluidsupply pipe, the starting-lever and connections withthe valve mechanism, the cut-off mechanism, main driving-pulley and cam,and connecting-levers for communicating a reciprocating motion to theabutments. Fig. 2 is a plan View in the main through the line 2 2, Fig.1, but not cutting the main shaft, valves, and mechanism for actuatingthe abutments. In Fig. 2 the exhaust-valves are not shown, but theexhaust-ports are shown, 59 being the exhaust-port for exhaust-valve 38,and 61 being the exhaust-port for exhaustvalve 41. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection on line 3 3, Fig. 2, and shows in detail the valve mechanism andports through the abutments and the positions of the pistons. Fig. 4 isa modification showing a vertical section of the cylinder, pistons, andabntments, inlet and exhaust valves, and cut-off valves, the novelfeatures of which are the pistons'and abutments, so constructed andarranged that the pistons, as they revolve, push the abutments out oftheir path or the abutments may be provided with rolls adapted to travelin cam-paths which are so located as to carry the abutments out of thepath of the pistons at the proper time. Fig. 5 is a plan view of thatmodification shown in Fig. 4, in which the abutments are moved out ofthe path of lever shown in Fig. 1; but in order to place the valves inthe position shown in Fig. 2 the starting-lever must be thrown to theright.

The general plan of the motor consists in the arrangement of two engineswithin a common casing, the pistons in each engine being secured to ahub attached to a common main shaft.

. In the drawings, A is the outline of the casing.

B is the cylinder, which may be secured in any suitable manner to aproper foundation.

0 is a piston within the cylinder, secured to a hub mounted upon themain shaft I.

D is a second piston opposite O and similarly secured in position.

E and F are abutments in one engine, and G and Hare the correspondingabutments in the other engine.

1 is the fluid-supply pipe, with the branch pipes 2 2, which con vey thefluid to both sides of the engine.

3 is the inlet-valve for both engines on one side.

4 is the inlet-valve for both engines on the other side. The valve 3 isprovided with four ports 5 6 7 8. The valve 4 is provided with fourports 9 10 11 12. 13 14 15 16 are the cut-off valves. The cut off valve13 is provided with the ports 17 and 18. The cut-oh. valve 14 isprovided with the ports 19 20. The cut-off valve 16 is provided with theports 21 22. 23 24 are disks secured to the main shaft and provided ontheir outer faces with campaths in which run the rolls 25, connected bythe pin 26 with the jointed arm 27, which imparts a reciprocating motionto the arm 28, which is loosely pivoted at one end 29, and at theopposite end is connected through the rods 30 with the abutments, towhich a reciprocating motion is thus communicated.

In Fig. 2 the abutments E F are shown in the inward position and theabutments G H in the outward position.

. site ends are provided with shoulders 46,

37 and its connections with the main inlet- 31 32 are double eccentricsfor actuating the cut-01f mechanism and are rigidly connected with thedisks 23 24.

33 is the valve-lever, pivoted at 34 and connected by the rod 35 withthe wrist-plate 36. It is represented in the drawings in the centralposition. Then it is desired to run the engine from left to right, thelever is moved to the right, and when it is desired to run the engine inthe opposite direction the lever is moved to the left.

The wrist-plate 36 is connected by the rod valve 3 and exhaust-valves 3Sand 39, and similarly the wrist-plate 36 is connected by the rod 40 andits connections with the main inlet-valve 4 and exhaust-Valves 41 and 42on the opposite side of the engine.

43 is the exhaust-pipe on either side of the engine.

44 45 are two levers connected by straps to the double eccentric 31, andnear their oppowhich can have bearings upon the lower side of theangle-piece 47, pivoted at 48, through which the ends of the leversproject. The levers are held in their seats by the spring 49, and theangle-piece 47 is held in its initial position by the spring 50.

51 is a rod which may be connected with any well-known form ofball-governor, (not shown in the drawings,) and has an adj ustableconnection with the arm 52, pivoted at 53 to the casing of the motor andprovided with the projections 54 55. \Vhen the speed of the motor isincreased, the governor-rod is elevated, the end 54 of lever 52 isdepressed, the levers 44 45 are tripped from their seats on theangle-arm 47, the result being that the rod 56 is drawn to the left bythe action of the spring50, the cut-off valves closed, and the speed ofthe engines diminishes. The governor-rod is now depressed, the shoulders46 of levers 44 45 regain their seats upon the arm 47 and are nottripped as quickly at the succeeding revolution of the eccentric, theresult being that the rod 56 is thrown to the right, the cut-off valvesare opened, and the speed of the engine increases. At each revolution ofthe eccentric the levers 44 45 are tripped from their seats on arm 47,the action of the governor determining when the trip shall occur. If,for any reason, the governorbelt should break or slip out of position,the arm 51 would be sufficiently depressed to force the lug against thelevers 44 45, holdin g the latter permanently out of contact with thearm 47, and the engine would stop.

The starting-lever 33 is shown in Fig. 1 in the central position, andthe valves are then in the positions shown in Fig. 3. If the lever ismoved to the right, the valves take the positions shown in Fig. 2, andfluid is ad mitted through the port 5 in the inletvalve 3, through port17 in the cut-off valve, through the passage 57 in the abutment E, andupon the upper face ofthe piston O. Similarlyl fluid is admitted throughthe port 9 in the inlet-valve 4, through port 19 in the cut-off valve,through the passage 58 in the abutment F, and upon the lower face of theopposing piston D, as shown in Fig. 3, causing the pistons to revolve inthe cylinder from left to right. The fluid behind the piston C exhauststhrough the exhaust-valve 42 and the fluid behind the piston D exhauststhrough the exhaust-valve 38. As the pistons approach the abutments thelatter are quickly withdrawn from the path of the pistons until thepistons have passed, and are then instantly returned to their inwardposi tions. The abutments G and H are represented in the extreme outwardpositions. It is understood that fluid is on all four pistons throughoutthe revolution, excepting when the abutments are withdrawn, and duringthe time when the abutments are withdrawn in one cylinder the pistonsare receiving fluid in the other cylinder.

-If it is desired to reverse the engine and run it from right to left,the lever 33 is thrown to the left. This closes port 5 in valve 3 andplaces port 6 in line with port 18 in the cutoff valve, through whichand through the passage 60 in the abutment E fluid is admitted upon thepiston, which is then in position to receive it. Similarly the port 9 invalve 4 is closed, and port 10 is placed in line with port 20 in thecut-off valve 14, through which and through the passage 61 in theabutment F fluid is admitted upon the piston, which is then in positionto receive it. hen the en gine is running in this direction, the fluidexhausts through the ports 41 and 39. The operation of the companionengine is the same and need not be described.

In the initial position of the engine (shown in Fig. 1) the cut-off isclosed, but the lever 47 may be moved suiiiciently by hand or by anyconvenient connecting mechanism to start the engine.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 two differentmethods for actuating the abutments are shown by means of an oscillatoryinstead of a reciprocating motion, as in the form of abutment I havealready described. These modified forms, unlike the one described, donot admit of reversing the engine, but are useful and economical.

62 63 are the pistons, which are secured to the piston-hub 64, and whichare wedgeshaped, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

65 66 are the corresponding pistons in the companion engine.

67 68 are the abutments, mounted upon a shaft, through which they mayreceive rotary motion in a manner to be described.

69 7 O are the inlet-ports for the fluid.

71 72 are the cut-off valves.

73 is one exhaust-port, and 74 is the other.

The cut-off valve 71 is provided with a port 82, and the cut-off valve 72 is provided with the port 83.

75 is a cam eccentrically secured to the ICO main shaft, on whose facethe rolls 76 77 are adapted to travel and are held in contact with theface of the cam bysprings 92. These rolls are mounted in the arms 78 79, rigidly connected at their opposite ends with the shafts 8O 81, towhich the abutments 67 08 are secured and through which the abutmentsmay be moved through the arc of a circle when the main shaft revolves.

In Fig. 5 the abutments 67 68 are shown in the inward positionillustrated in Fig. 4, the abutments in the companion engine beingin theoutward position, which they must take to allow the pistons to pass. Nowif the starting-lever 33, Fig. 1, is moved to the right the valves takethe positions shown in Fig. 5. Fluid is admitted through the port 69,through the port 82 in the cut-off valve 71, through the passage 84: inthe abutment G7, and upon the base of piston 62. Similarly fluid isadmitted through the-port 70, through the port 83 in the cut-off valve72, through the passage 85 in the abutment 68, and upon the base ofpiston 63, causing the pistons to revolve in the cylinder from left toright. The fluid behind the piston 62 exhaust-s through the exhaust-port74, and the fluid behind the piston 63 exhausts through the exhaust-port 73. As the pistons approach the abutments the connect-ingparts are so ar-- ranged and timed that the action of the cam on therolls 7G 7 7 through thearms 7S 7 9 and shafts S0 and 81, rotates theabutments out of the path of the pistons and into the pockets 87, madein the frame of the engine. When the pistons have passed the abutments,the latter are returned to their initial positions by the action of thesprings, Fig. 6, upon the arms 79 and S0, or they may be returned in amanner to be described in connection with the other modificationreferred to later. The cam and rolls are so adjusted that the abutmentshave no greater friction upon the piston-hub than is sufficient toeffect a tight joint, and hence exercise no appreciable retarding effectupon the engine.

I provide for any wear of the parts by means of the screws 88 89, Fig.6, slot 90, and key 91, by means of which any wearin the cam or rollsmaybe compensated for by moving the central line of the arms 78 7 9toward or away from the axis of the eccentric 75, as may be desired.

Coming now to my second modification, I may dispense with the cam 75 andintermediate parts connecting it with the abutments and rely upon theaction of the pistons toremove the abutments from their path as theyrevolve in the cylinder. This modification will be understood uponreference to Fig. 4:, where it will be seen that as the wedge-shapedpistons revolve in the cylinder from left to right they will push thepivotally-hun g abut ments aside and into the pockets 86 87, and as soonas the pistons have passed the abutments will be returned to theiroutward positions and in the following manner: Each abutment, like 67,is provided with two ports 9i 95. lVhen in the outward position, asshown in Fig. 4:, the port 9i is closed; but when in the inwardposition, in pocket 86, the port 94 receives fluid, which, having noother egress, passes through the port 95 and presses against the sidesof the pocket 86, so that when the piston has passed and the abutment isfree to do so it will be returned to its outward position, where it willbe held by the pressure of the incoming fluid. This construction, asstated above, may be used with the modification last explained.

In order that the abutments may not come in any closer contact with thepiston-disks than necessary to make a perfect steam-joint, I make 011the abutments the shoulders 92 93,

adapted to engage with recesses in the frame.

of the engine so formed that the abutments are held permanently out ofexcessive frictional contact with the piston-disk, and the same effectmay be produced in a variety of ways.

The most efficient form in which my invention may be embodied is thedouble engine shown in the drawings, the individual engincs being sorelated and timed that fluid is continually acting upon the pistons inone engine, and with the exception of the brief t1me during which theabutments are withdrawn the fluid is continually acting in both engines.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is l 1. In a rotary engine, the combination of acylinder and piston and disk and eccentric attached to the main shaft,said disk being provided with a cam-patl1 and said eccentric beingoperatively connected with suit-able cut-oif mechanism and an abutmentprovided with a port through which the fluid may be conveyed to thepiston, and connecting and operating mechanism intermediate said diskand said abutment, and suitable valve mechanism and means for operatingthe same, whereby the abutment may be withdrawn from the path of thepiston and returned to its initial position substantially as described.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder and two pistons,secured on opposite sides to the pistonhub, and disk and eccentricattached to the main shaft, said disk bein g provided with acampath, and said eccentric being operati vely connected with suitablecut-off mechanism, and two abutments provided with ports, with outletson opposite faces of said abutments through which the fluid may beconveyed to the pistons, and connecting and operating mechanismintermediate said disk and said abutment, and suitable valve mechanism,and means for operating the same, whereby the abutments may be withdrawnfrom the path of the revolving pistons, an d returned to their initialpositions,

and the fluid cutoff at any desired part of the stroke, and the enginereversed, substantially as described.

3. A rotary engine, comprising the following elements, in combination: acylinder, two rotary inlet-valves supplied with suitable ports,intermediate rotary cut-off valves and suit-able exhaust-ports, twopistons, secured on opposite sides to thepiston-hub, two abutmentsprovided with ports, having outlets upon opposite faces of saidabutments, a disk attached to the main shaft, provided with a cam-pathand mechanism for operatively connecting said disk with said abutments,an eccentric attached to said main shaft, operatively connected with thegovernor, suitable valve mechanism and means for operating the same,substantially as described.

t. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, provided with asuitable pocket,

within which the abutment may be withdrawn, a piston, a cam upon themain shaft, an abutment adapted to receive oscillatory motion andprovided with a main port, which is closed when the abutment is withinthe pocket, and an opening connecting its outer face and the main portthrough which a supply of fluid maybe admitted, when the abutment iswithin the pocket, and a second opening between said main port and saidpocket, and connecting and operating mechanism intermediate said cam andsaid abutment, whereby the abutment may be withdrawn from the path ofthe piston and returned to its initial position, substantially asdescribed.

5, In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder provided with asuitable pocket, within which the abutment may be withdrawn, awedge-shaped piston, an abutment pivotally secured at one end andadapted to receive oscillatory motion, and provided with a main portwhich is closed when the abutment is within the pocket, and an openingconnecting its outer face and the main port, through which a supply offluid may be admitted when the abutment is within the pocket, and asecond opening between said main port and said pocket, whereby thepiston, as it revolves, may push the abutment out of the piston-path,and the abutment may be returned to its initial position, substantiallyas described.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder provided with asuitable pocket within which the abutment may be withdrawn, awedge-shaped piston, an abutment pivotally secured at one end andadapted to receive oscillatory motion and provided with a main port,which is closed when the abutment is within the pocket, and an openingconnecting its outer face and the main port, through which a supply offluid may be admitted when the abut-ment is within the pocket, and asecond opening between said .main port and said recess, and means forholding the ab utment out of frictional contact with the piston-hub,whereby the piston, as it revolves, may push the abutment out of thepiston-path, and the abutment maybe returned to its initial position,Without retarding the motion of the piston-hub, substantially asdescribed.

7L In a rotary engine the combination of a cylinder provided with asuitable pocket within which the abutment may be withdrawn, awedge-shaped piston, an abutment, pivotally secured at one end, andadapted to receive oscillatory motion, and provided with a main portwhich is closed when the abutment is within the pocket, and an openingconnecting its outer face and the main port, through which a supply offluid may be ad mitted, when the abutment is within the pocket, and asecond opening between said main port and said pocket, the said abutmentbeing also provided with a shoulder adapted to find a bearing on arecess in the side of the cylinder, whereby the piston, as it revolves,may push the abutment out of the piston-path, and the abutment may bereturned to its initial position, without retarding the motion of thepiston-hub, substantially as described.

MERRILL E. CLARK.

\Vitnesses:

THOMAS H. GAGE, Jr., C. G. WAsHBURN.

